I am afraid

There is always the danger that when you mix political matters with religion on a forum like this that you will inevitably alienate some readers. I know I can have very staunch opinions on matters myself, and that they can make me stop listening to the reality of the world around me. A huge part of me did not want to author this piece. I am not any kind of authority in the world of Zen and worry that I do not have the insight or even level-headedness that is required to broach the topic. I fear that I have nothing to say. Thanks to a very thoughtful teacher I know, I was encouraged to write this precisely because of those fears.

FEAR

As I sit here, striving to find the right words, some words, any words, about this situation unfolding around us, I am afraid. I am afraid of what Florida pastor Terry Jones and those who subscribe to his sort of ideology will do, not only in terms of damage to our country, but indeed the world at large. I fear that the hatred in their hearts will consume them. I am afraid for the Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Muslim cleric behind plans for the so-called ‘Ground Zero mosque’ in New York, who himself seems as fearless as anyone aiming to be a Bodhisattva that I’ve ever seen. I fear for the sector of the American public who teaches their children that it is OK to hate someone based on the color of their skin, or their religious dress, their sexual orientation, or their gender. I fear for myself, a person who often feels lost in a world that makes no sense, where people fight and kill one another over ideas and material gain. I fear that I too will hate Terry Jones and his followers because I am so afraid to love him. I am afraid I don’t have the capacity within me to do that, and what that might mean, for my well-being, and for the well-being of those who love me.

I mourn for those who value words on a page more than their human brother and sister. For those, too, that think liberty may be had without justice.

I fear that tomorrow the world may find itself in a nuclear holocaust or embroiled in a campaign of genocide. I fear that many will forget the basic tenets of this practice, trying however hard we may be to make it through in such a bizarre world.

Each of us is going to die one day. We might fear this fact, we might not. That is far less difficult to address than our fear to live, as human beings, as bodhisattvas, as good brothers and sisters, and assuming the courage and conviction with which we must have to engage a world filled with those who may even wish to kill us, for our ideas.

Fear is what is fueling all human suffering. I must dispel that fear within me. It is my job as a citizen of this world to remember that this practice isn’t found in a forum, on a cushion, in a book or magazine. Also, it is not not found in those. I fear that after my tears this evening dry that I will soon forget the power of my own message, of my own conviction, crouching back in to the safety of the armchair army. This practice is about living, about doing my part. It is about speaking truth to power and ignorance, both within ourselves and in the world ‘around us.’ It is about knowing what you can do, and working with that. I believe this world has some hope, so long as I do.

“May we keep a mind which is clear like space, believe completely in ourselves, get Enlightenment, and save all beings from suffering.” – Zen master Seung Sahn (TY Soen sa Nim)

About Adam Kō Shin Tebbe

Adam Kō Shin Tebbe (Kō Shin meaning Shining Heart) is editor at Sweeping Zen and is a blogger for Huffington Post's Religion section, writing mainly on topics of interest to Zen practitioners. Before starting the website in 2009, Adam trained to be a chemical dependency counselor. Adam is currently working on a documentary on Zen in North America (titled Zen in America) with a projected release date of 2017.

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There is no shortage of any one of those afflictions in life, though there is a definite shortage of a genuine aspiration to care and live compassionately. You know, I’ve not cried like I did when doing this post for a good 10 years or more. It was kind of liberating, as if I were letting my true voice come out rather than the one which I sensor or dress up. It’s strange how, when you truly have something write, it sort of just pours out.

It is encouraging to read those who speak through the heart. All is not lost. As one who relates to the above comments, and observing the current events unfolding all over the world, the thought that we are all here for Lesson. Regardless of how Earth, as classroom, turns out, each of us as individuals are here, willingly, to participate within the larger Lesson. Not all of us are destined to graduate this round. . . . Lesson is always unfolding. . . What we are all watching with those that carry hate as a cudgel, are those with broken hearts disrupting class. . . .

My friends, religion is ALWAYS (maybe i can say all-ways) a political matter. It always was…..
And the experience of “the religious” or the Sacred also is.
If it is genuine, it brings forth a New Subjectivity-Sociability and we walk the path of transformation for all the many beings in all time and space.
Our wounded Mother Earth needs this…
Religion is always a political matter, and if it is a true one, it is revolutionary too…

early 15c., from M.Fr. politique (14c.) “political,” from L. politicus “of citizens or the state, civil, civic,” from Gk. politikos “of citizens or the state,” from polites “citizen,” from polis “city” (see policy (1)). Replaced in most adj. senses by political. The verb meaning “to engage in political activity” is first recorded 1917, a back formation from politics.

I’ve never been able to separate my religion from my politics. I don’t want to. Living as best I can by the precepts is political, the four boundless vows are political.

Recognizing fear in myself has helped tremendously in recognizing it in others. Whenever we act to overcome our own fear, we help to bring about fearlessness in others. Never doubt that. I’ve seen it over and over again. Same with greed, hatred and ignorance. Then we can see that there truly is no separation, no isolated jewel in Indra’s net. We’re all in this together. Together we are all This!

About Sweeping Zen

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